Unifying their approach to transparent supply chains, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has initiated a first interoperability standards test to bolster the standard of communication between the private sector, government agencies and key stakeholders in the supply chain, while simultaneously allowing all to have control over choosing various technologies.
As America’s primary border control law enforcement agency, the CBP is involved again in the upcoming Identity Week America 2023 and will be a particularly outspoken voice on the first day on mobile digital identities. The event schedule includes two sessions exploring how we should increase collaborative use cases for mobile trusted digital identity for identity verification within CBP’s operations.
The CBP’s latest test focused on pipeline oil and steel supply chains, however, growing global interoperability standards will help support data and system interoperability as new technologies are developed combining with existing systems. This is the case for evolving machinery and security technology across most international aviation hubs, which are now deploying biometrics and mobile apps to store the passport holder’s information.
Modernisation efforts by the CBP look to be regulating the saturated tech market in keeping with innovation across the travel industry. The test of standards will ensure a joined-up approach exists to enable global interoperability of different software systems – old and new – working efficiently with each other.
Vincent Annunziato, CBP’s Business Transformation and Innovation Division Director had this statement to say:
“Interoperability standards will help unify the approach to transparent supply chains within both the public and private sectors, streamlining communication and improving both security and facilitation”.
“Our 2023 test (on pipeline oil and steel supply chains) created the possibility for more advancements. With bipartisan support, CBP will extend its commitment to global standards by testing its ability to verify the origin of transactions and issue credentials”.
Regardless of the specific supply chain, efficiencies guided by standards will remove the need for paper and create real-time data exchanges.
The modernisation strategy, which will encompass building a global interoperability standard in one area, has joined members of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate under the Silicon Valley Innovation Program to achieve these objectives. They include mesur.io, Neoflow and Transmute.
